Alexander Zverev has dropped to World No. 3 in the ATP rankings recently, and his status as a top favorite has slipped even further.
Just a couple of years ago, the German was incredibly close to reaching the top spot. He had another shot at it this year when Jannik Sinner faced a three-month suspension, and back then, Zverev looked like he could lead the ATP Tour for years to come.
Fast-forward to today, and there are two clear superstars dominating men’s tennis.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev | 28 | 6,885 | 34 - 10 |
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have split the last seven Grand Slam titles between them. The Italian has won four, while his Spanish rival has claimed three.
Everyone else has been watching from the sidelines. But that doesn’t mean they’ve given up on their dreams of glory.
Zverev is one of those players still fighting for his place at the top. Even though he’s closer to retirement than to his first professional match at this stage of his career, he’s not ready to back down from challenging the best.
Ready to Crash the Party
He watched Alcaraz and Sinner battle for the title in London, then sat down with Tennis365 in the same city. The German had a clear message for the two rising stars.
"Maybe it hasn’t been my best year, but I don’t think I’m as far away as some people may think. At the moment, Carlos is the kind of the star boy now. He just brings great energy to the court and along with Jannik, they are the players to beat. I just hope to spoil their party a little bit and I think I can do that."
Zverev knows what it’s like to be caught in controversy and media storms. He’s learned firsthand how those moments can make or break a player’s relationship with fans.
That’s why he thinks Alcaraz has a bright future ahead – if he can stay out of trouble.
So far, the Spaniard has managed to keep his image pretty clean, though he did face some criticism after attending a bullfighting event in Spain.
"Carlos is a great guy. He is fun to be around and he always has a smile on his face. If he can avoid any controversies, he is going to be very, very loved by tennis fans."
Team Europe’s Winning Formula
Zverev will be back for the 2025 Laver Cup, continuing his tradition with the popular exhibition event. During the interview, he looked back on the 2024 edition, where Team Europe came out on top.
Alcaraz was the star of that tournament, securing eight out of Team Europe’s 13 points.
"Laver Cup was great to be a part of, and it is always a massive team effort, for sure. There are a lot of things that go into deciding which team comes out on top. The way Casper Ruud played in his doubles match on the final day of the last Laver Cup was amazing. It was probably the best doubles match I’ve ever watched from him."
Zverev had his own dramatic moment during that week. He came back from being a set and a break down against Frances Tiafoe to secure the win – all while battling illness.
"Then I came back from a set and a break down [against Frances Tiafoe] to get the win, and I was very sick during that week. I pulled out of tournaments for a few weeks after that with a lung issue. Then Carlos came on and won the final match, and it was a great weekend. It definitely was a team effort."
The German actually had to withdraw from several tournaments afterward due to lung problems.
The Next Showdown
Zverev won’t have to wait long to prove his point about challenging the top two.
All three players are set to meet at the 2025 Canadian Open in Toronto, where we’ll see if the veteran can really spoil Alcaraz and Sinner’s party.
